Wall for silos and the like.



E. F. WIEDERHOLDT.

WALL FOR SILOS AND THE LIKE. APPLIGATION FILED APR. 30, 1909.

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UNITED sTArE-is PATENT orrie.

ERNEST F. WIEDERHOLDT, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNDR TOIVIEDE RHOLD'I CON STRUC'IION COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

WALL FOR SILOS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 1911.

Application filed April 30, 1909. Serial No. 493,089.

-VValls for Silos and the Like, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 .is an elevation of a silo of my improved construction,'with the lower portion shown in vertical section; Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken through the cen -er of one of the doors or openings in the wall of the silo; Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

' My invention relates to walls for silos and the like, my principal object being to construct a wall composed of hollow blocks o tiles, same being filled with concrete analogous hardened-plastic material which is reinforced with'vertical and horizontal.

rods.

To the above purposes, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

My improved silo is illustrated in the form of a silo which is of cylindrical form of any height or diameter desired, and to support the circular wall forming the body of the .silo I provide a suitable foundation 1, which may be of metal, natural stone or concrete, and which is preferably located a short distance below the surface of the ground. A body of concrete .Zis located in the space within the foundation 1, and arranged on said body of concrete is a flooring 3 of suitable material. The hollow blocks or tiles 4: which form the wallof the structure are approximately Hsshaped in horizontal section, and the tops of the centrally disposed webs or cross-pieces between the sides of said blocks or tiles 4% being recessed in order to receive the horizontally disposed reinforcing bars or rods. The blocks or tiles 4 are segmental in horizontal section in order to form the circular wall of the structure, and formed integral'with the inner faces of the side walls of said blocks or tiles are vertically disposed ribs 5 which materially assist in anchoring the filling of concrete or cement which is poured into the blocks or tiles as the wall is built up. The

blocks or tiles are laid one on top of the other, and I prefer that the meeting ends of each horizontal row of tile break joints with the tile forming the adjacent rows.

The peculiar shape of the tile and the manner in which they are laid, establishes communication between'the spaces in the ends of the tile, and between said spaces and the spaces in the ends of the adjacent tile, both above and below and at both ends, as the successive courses are laid one upon the other. When these spaces are later filled with the plastic concrete or other self hardenin'g material, .the same runs freely from one space to another, completely'filling all of said spaces, and'thus the body of concrete is practically continuous throughout the entire structure Thus a reinforced monolithic structure is formed which is "especially desirable in buildi 1g silos, chimneys and other circular wall structures, and which construction is not possible where the transverse walls of the hollow blocks or tiles are in vertical alinement wit-h each. other, or where a series of vertical wells are formed in the wall extending from the top to the bottom thereof, and which wells are filled with concrete or the like.

Vertically disposed reinforcing rods 6 are arranged at suitable distances apart substantial monolithic structure is formed.

A suitable cover or roof 8 is provided for the upper end' of the structure, and if desired, a door 9 is arranged on said roof or cover.

To form a ladder for the structure, I provide metal bars which are bent into rectangular loops l0. and a vert cal row of said loopsis arranged in the wall of the structure, said loops being positioned between the lothorizontal rows of the hollow blocks or tiles 4, with the central portion of each loop embedded in the concrete or cement wall top' of said frame.

thereof.

Suitable openings are formed in the wall of thestructure, preferably one above the other at regular. distances apart, and arranged in each opening is a frame 11 the projecting portion of which is sheathed with metal 12 or other fire-proof material. Fixed within this frame 11 are cleats 13, and positioned thereagainst is a removable door or panel 14.

15 designates a sliding door or panel the side edges of which operate in grooves 16 formed in the inner faces of the side rails 'of the frame 11, said door or panel operating through an opening 17 formed in the Loops 18, which perform the function of handles, are fixed to both the inner and outer faces of this door' or panel-15 at a point adjacent the lower end thereof, and depending from the top of the frame 11 is a hook 19 whichis adapted to engage the innermost one of said loops when the door or panel 15 is elevated. The openings and closures therefor, as just-described, provide means whereby access may be had to the interior of the structure, and

when desired the panels 15 may be elevated and the panels 14: forced inward in order to fill the silo or remove the contents thereof.- Two or more of the horizontally disposed re-. inforcing rods 7 are arranged in'the rows of hollow blocks or tile immediately above and below each of the door openings, thus reinforcing the wall of the structure adjacent.

the points occupied by the door openings. In some instances it may be found desirable to form the frames 11 of metal or fire-proof material, and where such construction is cardurable, can be erected at a comparatively low cost, and while particularly adapted for use as a silo for the ensilage of fodder and the like, it can be utilized as a container or. storage tank for grain and the like, and if desired, a structure without doors or openings in the wall can be readily utilized as a chimney.

The H-shaped tiles used .in constructing my improved silo are preferably burned to such an extent that they have closed surfaces, the joints between them being pointed up with a water-proof or other cement having little or no absorptive powers, so far as moisture is concerned. In this way the silo is watertight, being in the nature of an earthen jar with openings at varying heights and when the ensilage is stored therein, the juices and water entering therefrom will be retained in the silo and not absorbed by the walls thereof. Furthermore, when all the openings are closed, there is little or no evaporation of moisture, and the heat of fermentation is retained in the silo, which is very beneficial to the ensilage in that it practically cooks the ensilage and destroys the germs therein.

I claim:

A wall for silos and the like composed of v glazed sur aces being pointed up with water proof material to prevent liquid'from passing through the porous material.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this 26th day of March, 1909.

ERNEST F. WIEDERHOLDT. Witnesses:

F. R. CORNWALL, LENORE CLARK. 

